SUMMER READING CHALLENGES AND WRITING COMPETITIONS
We are at that summer midway point. Which also means finding new ways to keep your child engaged and active in their minds. There are many summer camps out there, but there are also plenty of resources at your finger tips.
Summer reading and writing prevents learning loss while maintaining a sense of play and imagination. As it may be difficult to be self-motivated without deadlines or a social group, I have included some wonderful online Reading Challenges and Writing Competitions for your child to enter.
After an exhaustive search, I have compiled some of the best and recent (2024) sources that will link you directly to the challenge and competition sites.
Of course any of our tutors can help guide your child through any of the summer reading and writing challenges they choose, or we can personalize a plan for them.
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READING CHALLENGES:
Scholastic offers a summer challenge for children ages 3-13. There are 10 downloadable badges for goal completions as well as book lists according to age.
PBS Kids for Parents Summer Adventure has reading charts, and activity ideas
It also has math activities and out door adventure ideas.
https://www.pbs.org/parents/summer
The New York Times challenge has students read any 2024 article published in their paper and kids can write in, or even video their response. They publicly list the winners-The New York Times!
The National Education Society has an amazing source of information to help you raise your readers. Amongst many, their list of summer reading challenges includes Barnes and Noble summer reading program where you can receive a free book, and Pizza Hut’s ‘Camp Book It’.
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/get-serious-about-summer-reading
Don’t forget to check your local libraries, many have summer reading challenges of their own!
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WRITING COMPETITIONS:
Writing competitions deliver a fun angle to writing. They deliver prompts, deadlines, the feeling of being linked into other’s writing and do you need an extra motivator?! Many come attached with cash prizes!
We Are Teachers is a personal favorite site offering some of the best writing competitions for students up to age 18.
https://www.weareteachers.com/student-writing-contests/
The National Youth Foundation is geared towards diversity and empowerment and has 4 competitions: “I Matter” poetry and art, Amazing Women’s Edition, Youth Writing Workshop and Student Book Scholars Contest. The site also offers a library of the past winners works to read. A very positive site!
https://www.nationalyouthfoundation.org/our-programs
If you love the idea of having your child published you can go to Young Writers USA. https://www.youngwritersusa.com/contests
And two other helpful sites with informative lists of competitions:
Aralia -Top 9 Writing Competitions:
New Pages:
https://www.newpages.com/young-writers-guide/young-writers-guide-to-contests/#July
